Apparatus for supplying a gas, especially an oxygen into a liquid

ABSTRACT

A device for introducing a gas into a liquid, as for depollution of a stream or pond. A rotatable shaft, journalled in floating or fixed bearings, has radial extensions formed both by propelling plates and brush parts. The propelling plates and brushes may be secured to a hollow core, which is fastened to the shaft, and the weight of the whole device may be lower than the lifting power of the liquid on the device. The propelling plates may be helically arranged around the shaft, so that a continuous rotation of the shaft is obtained by the stream of the liquid, and the propelling plates may be prolonged in tangential direction to increase the propelling force thereof. The brushes may rotate relatively to the shaft. A guiding gutter may be provided at the area of the propelling plates, water being pushed through the gutter for causing the shaft to rotate, and the gutter may have a venturi-like section.

United States Patent Geerlings Mar. 26, 1974 [54] APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING A GAS, 712,366 7/1954 Great Britain 210/156 ESPECIALLY AN OXYGEN INTO A LIQUID 1,093,739 11/1960 Germany 1,166,104 10/1957 Germany 261/92 Inventor: Antonius I'Iubertus Geerlings,

Heidestraat 5, Susteren, Netherlands Filed: May 3, 1973 Appl. No.2 356,997

Related US. Application Data Continuation of Ser. No, 93,240, Nov. 27, 1970, abandoned.

Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 3, 1969 Netherlands 6918125 US. Cl. 261/92, 261/120 Int. Cl B0lf 3/04 Field of'Search 261/92, 120; 210/242, 15,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 57,543 8/1866 Mihan 261/92 1,064,335 6/1913 Johnston... 210/157 1,150,348 8/1915 Dreher 210/156 2,798,042 7/1957 Cox 261/92 2,922,489 1/1960 Hollingsworth.. 261/92 3,458,176 7/1969 Auler 261/92 Austria 210/157 Primary Examiner-Tim R. Miles Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Owen, Wickersham &

Erickson [57] ABSTRACT A device for introducing a gas into a liquid, as for depollution of a stream or pond. A rotatable shaft, jour nalled in floating or fixed bearings, has radial extensions formed both by propelling plates and brush parts. The propelling plates and brushes may be secured to a hollow core, which is fastened to the shaft, and the weight of the whole device may be lower than the lifting power of the liquid on the device. The propelling plates may be helically arranged around the shaft, so that a continuous rotation of the shaft is obtained by the stream of the liquid, and the propelling plates may be prolonged in tangential direction to increase the propelling force thereof. The brushes may rotate relatively to the shaft. A guiding gutter may be provided at the area of the propelling plates, water being pushed through the gutter for causing the shaft to rotate, and the gutter may have a venturi-like section.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Pmmms m4 3,799515 SHEET l (I? 3 H l 1 I |;|l

IHHJH HHHH c: 2:] l i l l iui i mum mm lmmf 4 FIG:

FIG 2 A. H. GEERLINGS ATTORNEY5 PAIENTEUMARZS I974 37893515 sum 2 BF 3 1 VEN A. H GE LIN BY U I ATTORNEYS PATENTEUMAR2B 1574 SHEET 3 BF 3 FREE INVENTOR A. H GEERLINGS 8Y0 6 a/ kw! AT TORNEYS APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING A GAS, ESPECIALLY AN OXYGEN INTO A LIQUID This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 93,240, filed Nov. 27, 1970, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device for introducing a gas into a liquid, and it relates, more particularly to such a device including a rotatable shaft provided with extensions and journalled in floating or fixed bearings. It has important applications in anti-pollution devices, such as, for example, de-pollution of rivers and streams.

The devices hitherto known have the disadvantage thet they have all had to be driven by electric motors or by combustion engines or the like. The present invention attempts to obviate this disadvantage.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In this invention, the device for introducing a gas into a liquid includes a shaft with extensions and is characterized by the extensions being formed by propelling plates and brush parts. The propelling plates, which may be venturi-shaped, are preferably arranged helically around the shaft, so that a continuous rotation of the shaft is obtained by the stream of the liquid in which the device is partially immersed.

The rotation of the shaft may be improved by providing guide gutters such that the liquid stream is increased at the area of the rotatable shaft. If the device of the invention is to be used in stagnant water, water movement may be produced with the aid ofa rotatable screw, in front of or behind the rotatable shaft, having propelling plates and brush parts. Such movement of water is preferred, for example, to driving the shaft, because the introduction of the gas into the liquid is thus improved.

It is, of course, possible to cause the brush parts of the rotatable shaft to rotate more rapidly than the parts having the propelling blades. This may be achieved by forming the rotatable shaft from connected portions, the transmission between them preferably being such that the brush parts rotate more rapidly than the parts having propelling blades.

It is also possible to arrange the brush parts on separate rotatable shafts, which are fastened and journalled relatively to the assembly, the rotation of the brush parts being brought about by the rotation of the propelling blades.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the nature of this invention reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 shows schematically in side elevation a rotatable shaft provided with propelling blades and brush parts;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II--II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows schematically in perspective a rotatable shaft having helical propelling blades;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a rotatable shaft having brushes adapted to rotate relatively to the shaft and to a guide gutter; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view which shows a further embodiment of a rotatable shaft having propelling blades and brush parts also with a guide gutter.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIGS. 1 and 2 a rotatable shaft 1 is provided with a core 2 having propelling blades 3 and brush parts 4. The core 2 may be made of polyvinylchloride or socalled hard foam or of polyester with glass fibre reinforcement, and it is preferably hollow so that the assembly can float.

The propelling blades 3 are preferably secured on the core 2 in staggered positions. The arrangement may be such that, for example, the propelling blades 3 can be exchanged. On the core 2 are also fastened, if desired in an exchangeable manner, the brush groups 4. Preferably, the lengths of the brushes 4 are such that a large quantity of air is enclosed during that part of the period of revolution in which the shaft 1 and the brushes 4 are located above the liquid level 5, the air being given off in the water during the part of a revolution in which the brushes are located in the liquid. The rotatable shaft 1 may be journalled in floating or fixed journals in accordance with the necessary requirements and conditions.

As a matter of course, when the liquid 5 moves in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 2, the shaft I with the core 2 fastened thereto rotates in the direction B. In

this way, large quantities of air can be introduced into the liquid 5, which can thus be purified, and it is thus not only possible to mix air intimately with the liquid, but also to mix chemicals with the stream of liquid.

It is thus possible to reduce the degree of pollution of rivers and the like in order to reduce the degree of pollution below the standard limits, while the viability of fish in the river water can be enhanced.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which the propelling blades 3a are arranged helically, which may result in a uniform rotation of the shaft 1.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4 the propelling blades 3b are also provided with projecting parts 6 which may be perpendicular to the radial blades 3b, i.e., may be prolonged in the tangential direction. The blades 3b may be made of a flexible material and may be interconnected by wires 7. Such an embodiment is preferably used in stagnant water, in which case a gutter-shaped guide plate 8 is preferably arranged in the area of the propelling blades, through which gutter 8 the liquid 5 is pushed by means of the driven helices, a pump and the like.

It may be preferably to cause the liquid 5 to move instead of driving the shaft 1 along with the core 2. By this means a flow is thus produced in the liquid 5, for example, in a pond, so that the whole quantity of liquid in the pond from time to time comes into contact with the brush parts of the shaft, so that the whole of the liquid is purified.

As is shown schematically in FIG. 4, the brush parts 4 may be adapted to rotate relatively to the shaft 1, for example, by fastening separate shafts 9 to the shaft 1 so that the shafts 9 can rotate relatively to the shaft 1. This may be achieved by means of suitable gear wheels, and

by means of an intermediate gear wheel the direction of rotation of the shafts 9 can be determined.

FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment in which the shaft 1 is journalled in bearings 10, which may be fastened to floats, whilst the propelling blades 3, which may have a helical shape or a shape as shown in FIG. 4, cause the shaft 1 to rotate. A gutter 8 is again provided. The shaft 1 is provided with geared wheels 11, which mesh with the geared wheels 12 of a shaft 13, to which the brush parts 4 are secured. The shaft 13 is journalled in bearings 14 and 15 which are fastened to the bearing part 10.

It will be apparent that further embodiments of the invention are possible, and the embodiments specified above are only given by way of example.

For example, when a hollow core 2 is used, the whole structure may be caused to float on this hollow core so that the shaft 1 need only be anchored with the aid of anchors, lines and the like.

The same may also apply to the shaft 13 of FIG. 5, and in this way a very cheap, yet effectively operating, device is obtained for introducing air and chemicals into liquids, particularly water.

Also with respect to the present problems involved in water pollution such a cheap and efficient device is very important.

The gutters 8, when employed, may have a shape such that the speed at the area of the propelling blades gives rise to a higher speed of the stream so that a high propelling pressure is produced. This may advantageously be used in flowing liquids, but also in liquids being caused to flow. This may be achieved by a venturi-shaped structure or section of the gutter 8.

It is, of course, also possible to arrange a plurality of units one after the other or side by side. I In the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5 the shafts with the extensions for introducing the air into the liquid may rotate in the same senses or in opposite senses, depending on the arrangement of the intermediate gear wheels.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for introducing a gas into a liquid, comprising a freely rotatable shaft having associated therewith radial extensions formed by alternate propelling plates and brushes, each of said brushes, in use, enclosing therein a large quantity of air during the period of the revolution cycle when the brushes are positioned above the level of said liquid, said plates being adapted to cause rotation of said shaft and brushes by contact with a stream of liquid when partially immersed therein, said propelling plates being helically shaped and helically arranged around the shaft alternatively with said brushes so that a continuous rotation of the shaft is obtained by the stream of liquid.

2. A device for introducing a gas into a liquid, comprising a freely rotatable shaft having associated therewith radial extensions formed by alternate propelling plates and brushes, each of said brushes, in use, enclosing therein a large quantity of air during the period of the revolution cycle when the brushes are positioned above the level of said liquid, said plates being adapted to cause rotation of said shaft and brushes by contact with a stream of liquid when partially immersed therein, said propelling plates and brushes being secured to a floatable hollow core, which is fastened to the shaft, said core being formed of polyvinyl chloride or polyester reinforced with fibre glass or hard foam.

3. A device for introducing a gas into a liquid, comprising a freely rotatable shaft having associated therewith radial extensions formed by alternate propelling plates and brushes, each of said brushes, in use, enclosing therein a large quantity of air during the period of the revolution cycle when the brushes are positioned above the level of said liquid, said plates being adapted to cause rotation of said shaft and brushes by contact with a stream of liquid when partially immersed therein, said brushes being mounted on a second rotatable shaft connected to and adapted to rotate relatively to said first-mentioned shaft.

4. A device for introducing a gas into a liquid, comprising a freely rotatable shaft having associated therewith radial extensions formed by alternate propelling plates and brushes, each of said brushes, in use, enclosing therein a large quantity of air during the period of the revolution cycle when the brushes are positioned above the level of said liquid, said plates being adapted to cause rotation of said shaft and brushes by contact with a stream of liquid when partially immersed therein, said propelling plates being prolonged in the tangential direction to increase the propelling force thereof, said plates being connected to each other at said prolongations by wires. 

1. A device for introducing a gas into a liquid, comprising a freely rotatable shaft having associated therewith radial extensions formed by alternate propelling plates and brushes, each of said brushes, in use, enclosing therein a large quantity of air during the period of the revolution cycle when the brushes are positioned above the level of said liquid, said plates being adapted to cause rotation of said shaft and brushes by contact with a stream of liquid when partially immersed therein, said propelling plates being helically shaped and helically arranged around the shaft alternatively with said brushes so that a continuous rotation of the shaft is obtained by the stream of liquid.
 2. A device for introducing a gas into a liquid, comprising a freely rotatable shaft having associated therewith radial extensions formed by alternate propelling plates and brushes, each of said brushes, in use, enclosing therein a large quantity of air during the period of the revolution cycle when the brushes are positioned above the level of said liquid, said plates being adapted to cause rotation of said shaft and brushes by contact with a stream of liquid when partially immersed therein, said propelling plates and brushes being secured to a floatable hollow core, which is fastened to the shaft, said core being formed of polyvinyl chloride or polyester reinforced with fibre glass or hard foam.
 3. A device for introducing a gas into a liquid, comprising a freely rotatable shaft having associated therewith radial extensions formed by alternate propelling plates and brushes, each of said brushes, in use, enclosing therein a large quantity of air during the period of the revolution cycle when the brushes are positioned above the level of said liquid, said plates being adapted to cause rotation of said shaft and brushes by contact with a stream of liquid when partially immersed therein, said brushes being mounted on a second rotatable shaft connected to and adapted to rotate relatively to said first-mentioned shaft.
 4. A device for introducing a gas into a liquid, comprising a freely rotatable shaft having associated therewith radial extensions formed by alternate propelling plates and brushes, each of said brushes, in use, enclosing therein a large quantity of air during the period of the rEvolution cycle when the brushes are positioned above the level of said liquid, said plates being adapted to cause rotation of said shaft and brushes by contact with a stream of liquid when partially immersed therein, said propelling plates being prolonged in the tangential direction to increase the propelling force thereof, said plates being connected to each other at said prolongations by wires. 